Pneumatic life raft



May 22, 1923.

1,456,168 C. C. WITMER ET AL ..PNEUMATIC LIFE RAFT Filed Nov.

4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ei IBT I S l: .Witmer Eleckwflh Havens May 22?, 1923. 1,456,1168

C. C. WITMER ET AL PNEUMATIC LIFE RAFT Filed Nov. 17, 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I; iii 17 19 15 glwucufo'z' .WiTmeT' Elelzkwith Havens May 22, 1923. 1 1,456,168 cc. WITMER ET AL PNEUMAT I C L I FE RAFT Filed Nov. 17. 1921. 4 Sheet-Sheet Charles [lWiImeT- Eleckwith Havens May 22, 1923. mamas C. C. WITMER ET AL PNEUMATI C LIFE RAFT Filed Nov. 17, 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 3 gn uc wfow I Charles. I: .WiTm ET Eleckwfih Havens 241) tlexib at consistin Fatent'edl May 22, 11%23.

near sea.

l at e. an man are o it? EGNO 2:1. n eoarona'rron or n roan.

vans, or no nines rnconroaa'rnn," or. a monnsro'r, new roan,

rnnorrnrrc earn a a I I .Ihtltga 'nea.

osron'r, at rear,

application are November r7, lean. er in. tracer.

To allwhom it may concem:

Be it known that we, Cannes (3. Wrr and Bncnwrrn Havens, citizens of the United States, residing at H..mmondsport,

t in the county of Steuben and State of New pneumatic device, which can be efiectively' used either as .a life raft on ocean oing steers or the like, or as'a pleasure evice 115 at watering resorts. I

Another obj act of the invention is the provision of an annular pneumatic body formed of balloon cloth or some other similar strong fluid proof material, having a novel circular e platform associated therewith forming. a. jumping platform and the like when the body is, used in connection with water sports.

A M her object of the invention is the revision of a raft having light weight and ormed of cushioned material which can be carried on boats and which can be used as a buoy to be thrown overboard when a person or persons is precipitated in the water, the W device being formed 'of'soft material for preventing the person or persons being injured by comingin contact with the buoy when the same is thrown overboard from the I v section on an enlarged scale, taken on the" persons inthe water.

.& her object of the invention is the provision of a novel means for forming the mean body of the raft,-the annular body of a plurali of arcuate sections eac forming an in ependent air compartment, so that if one compartment or section is perforated, the 1041. will still be can able of sustaining a number of persons m rther objects of the invention are" the provision of a'novel means'for connecting the VHll. a 7

w a novel means forconnecting the alt: heads for dividing the sections from grasping of the buoy bye of the arcuate sections to one other, and anovel means for holding the partltlons in the body for preventing the was mg back and forth of the air therein, when the load on the raft is shifted, the bulk heads and the artition forming reinforcing members'for tEe sections. f i

A sttll, furtherobject of the invention is the lprowision of means for connecting the ore ar platform with the annular inflatable pneumatic said means including an annular grommet strip to which the platform. can be laced,..the strip also forming means for strengtheningthe body. 7

A- still further object of the invention is to provide a pneumatic raft of the above a character, which will be durable and efiicient m use, one that will be simple and easy to manufacture, and one which can be placed upon the market at a reasonable cost.

,W1th these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and formation of parts, as will be heremafter more specifically described and claimedand illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which drawings: j

Figure 1 is a plan vow of the improved life raft, showing the samepr ovided with a loo ed'line for sea work.

F gure 2 a side elevation ofthe raft. Figure 3 1s a fragmentary inner elevation,

of the improved raft.

Figure 4: is a fragmentary longitudinal line of Figure 1.

V Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal section through the raft showing the method of securing the bulk heads therein,

and the meansof connecting the grommet strip to the inner periphery of the body.

- Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse section taken on the line 6+6 of Figure 5.

F igure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary lon- I gitudinal section taken on the line 7-7 of patch and fiexihlesupporting ropes carried thereby,

'Figure 10 is a section taken on the line Figure 4 of the drawings sitiQn.

Figure 11 is a plan view of the improved life raft showing the same provided with rope handles, instead of the annular looped hand line.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter A indicates the annular pneumatic body; B the grommet strip carried thereby; and (I, the platform which is adapted to be laced to the grommet strip.

The annular pneumatic inflatable body A comprises a plurality of arcuate sections 10, 11, 12 and 13, which have their terminals connected together in a novel manner. While I have only shown four of these arcuate sections, it is obvious that more or less of these sections can be used according to the size of the annular body. Each section includes an upper semi-circular wall 15 and a lower semi-circular wall 16. The meeting longitudinal edges of these walls are overlapped as at 17 and cemented to ether. The outer periphery of the body strengthening tape or band 18 extending entirely around the same, which serves as means for sealing the joint or seam, and the inner periphery of the body has cemented thereto an inner reinforcing band 19, which extends entirely around the same and seals the joint at its inner periphery. The inner surface of the body at the points of connection of the upper and lower walls 15 and 16 are also sealed .by inner reinforcing strips or tapes 20 and 21, which extend annularly around the inner surface of the body. This forms a strong and durable construction and not only serves as means for sealing the jointbut also strengthens the entire structure. The terminals of the sections 10, 11, 12 and 13, have their inner ends overlapped ortelescoped .as at 25, as clearly shown in Extending transversely around the joint 25 are annularly extending reinforcing strips or tapes 26, whichserve as means for sealing the joints.

An inner reinforcing tape 27 is also used, to

strengthen the joint. These tapes and the meeting terminals of the sections are all cemented together as clearly shown in the drawings.

A bulk head 30 is positioned at each joint so as to form each section into an independ; ent air compartment. and each of these sections is provided with suitable valves 28, whereby the same may be independently inflated. The bulk heads 30 are also-formed of balloon .cloth and consists of the discshaped divisional wall 31 and the right angularly extending annular attaching flanges 32, which are cemented or otherwise secured has an annular aaeaiee to the reinforcing inner tape 27 as at 33. A shoe or attaching member 34- is also utilized for securing the bulk head 30 in position and can be formed of balloon cloth, if so desired, and jconsistsof a pair of angular related walls 35 and 36, which are secured respectively to the discshaped body portion 31 of the bulk head 30 and to the inher reinforcing annular tape 27. It thus can be seen that the bulk heads 30 and the annular transversely extending tapes 26 and. 27 add rigidity to the pneumatic body and strength thereto. a I

Disposed intermediate the ends of each section and directly between the bulk heads 30 is disc shaped partition plates 40. These partition plates 40 are provided at their axis with openings 41 and these plates or ,partitions simply serve as means for preventingthe washing back and forth of the air within the sections. The partitions are secured in place similar to the bulk heads and it can be seen by referring to'Figure 5 of the drawings that the periphery of the partitions 40 are provided with outwardly extending attaching flanges 42, which can be secured to annular reinforcingtapes 43, which can be cemented to the inner surface of the sections. A shoe 44 is further uti lized to hold each partition in place and these shoes consist of angular related walls 45 and 46, which are cemented respectively to the partition plates and to the reinforcing tapes 43. It also is to be noted that the attaching flanges 42. are also securedto the reinforcing tapes.

To the inner periphery of the body A-is cemented orotherwise secured the grommet strip B, to which is adapted to be laced the m5- flexible platform C. The grommet strip'B also forms an additional means for strengthening the body T and is of annular formation and can be made of strong canvas. As

porting flange 50 which has interposed therein a stiffening ring 51, which can also be formed of canvas 1f so desired. Extending outwardly from the opposite sides of the supporting flange '50, are the attaching flanges 52 and 53, which are preferably cemented to the inner periphery of the body A as heretobefore stated. These attaching flanges 52 and 53 extend upthe sides of the body A for a considerable distance as clearly shown in Figure 3 of the drawings. I r

The platform C can be made of canvas or other flexible heavy material and is of a disc shape andhas secured thereto adjacent to its periphery reinforcing eyelets 54. The supporting flange 50 also has secured thereto reinforcing eyelets 55 and a suitable lacing '56 can be utilized for connecting the platform .to the grommet band and this lacing is threaded through the eyelets 54 and 55 as nannies clearly she in Figures 1, 5 and 11-of the drawings. 1

The outer periphery of the body A at the circumferential center thereof may have secured thereto a hand line 60, as clearly shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, or rope handles 70 as shown in. Figure 11 of the drawings for beach work or for water sports; The hand line 60 is formed of rope and threaded through suitable eyes 61, which are also preferably formed of rope. The eyes 61 are connected to the perip cry of the body A in a novel manner, and it can be seen that the rope utilized for the eyes is lopped to form the eye and then served as at 62. The ends of the rope below the served portions are frayed outwardly as at 63. The served part of the eye portion is passed through an opening in an enlarged patch 65, which is cemented or otherwise secured to the outer face of the annular body and the outer reinforcing band 18. The patch 65 completely houses the frayed end of the rope and forms a strong and durable means for securing the eye in position. The eyes 61 are arranged in clrcul'nferential, alignment and receive the hand line60. V

en the rope handles 70 are used, the

' same are secured inposition similar to the eyes 61, that is the terminals of the rope are frayed out and passed beneath patches 71 and securely cemented to the inner surface of the atches and to the outer surface of the ho y A and the annular reinforcing band 18. The patches are of course, cemented in position.

From the foregomg, it can be seen "that a pneumatic life raft has been provided, which i can be used both as a life raft or a buoy or at watering laces for watering sports.

If desire the raft can be carried in a deflated condition and inflated in time of emergencies when used on boats.

Changes in details may be made'without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention; but,

We claim v 1 1 1. A pneumatic raft comprising an annular flexible bodyformed from balloon cloth, a plurality of partitions dividing the body into a plurality of independent air compartments. and perforated partitions arranged in each compartment, whereby the washing back and forth of fluid in said compartments during change of load thereon is prevented.

'2. A pneumatic raft comprising an annular flexible body, means for inflating the body, inner and outer flexible reinforcing strips carried by the inner-rand outer peripheries of said body, and transversely ex tending reinforcing drips disposed about said body and said first mentioned strip at predetermined points.

3. A pneumatic raft :a rising an annular body feed of flexibe material, circumferentially extending reinforcing strips secured to the inner and outer peripheries of said body, transversely extending annular reinforcing strips disposed about said body at predetermined points, and a. grommet band having a plurality of eyelets therein secured to the inner peri hery of the body and extending above an below the inner circumferentially extending reinforcing strip, and an adgustable platform secured to said grommet and.

4. In a pneumatic raft, a flexible inflat able body, a grommet strip formed of flexible material folded intermediate its ends to provide an outwardly extending support- Ill ing flange, and outwardly attaching flanges,

form to said grommet strip.

5. A pneumatic raft comprising an annular body includinga plurality of flexible 'arcuate sections having the meeting terminals disposed in overla ped relation and secured together, circum enen'tially extending flexible reinforcin bands secured 'to the inner and outer peripheries of said body and to the inner surface ofthe body at diametrically opposite points, transversely extending flexible reinforcing bands secured about the body and said circumferentially extending reinforcin of connections of said sections, and means for inflating the body.

6. A pneumatic raft Comprisin an annu lar body including a plurality of exible arcuate sections having their meeting terminals disposed in overlapped relation and secured together, circumferentially extending flexible reinforcing bands secured to the inner surface of the body diametrically opposite points, transversely extending flexible reinforcing bands disposed about the body at the points of connections of said sections,

means for iating the bed and bull: heads disposed in said body at t e points of connection of said a'rcuate sections for forming a plurality of independent inflatable bodies.

In apneumatic raft, an annular body formed of flexible material comprisin plurality of arcuate sections having t eir meeting terminals disposed in overlapping relation and secured together, circumferentially extending reinforcing bands secured to the inner and outer eripheries of the body, and inner circum erentially extend ing bands secured to the inner surface of the body at diametrically opposite points, transversely extending reinforcing bands secured bands at the points are to the inner and outer surf of the body at the points of connections of the arcuate sections, bulk heads ma in said "we t Y at the pointsof conneenon of said sections and including adisc shaped vvall, and an ar'cuately extending ""anjnular attaching flange-secured to the inner surface of the body:atthe points of connection of the sections, and a reinforcing shoefor each bulk head including angular] related annular flanges secured respective y.to the bulkhead and to the-inner surface of the body.

8.- In apneumatic raft, an annular body formed of flexible material comprising a relation and secured together, circumferentially extending reinforcing bands. secured to the inner and outerperipheries of the body, and inner circumferentially extending bands secured to the inner' surface of the body at diametrically opposite points, transversely extending reinforcing bands secured to the inner and outer surface of the body at the points of connections of the arcuate sections, bulk heads-dis posed in said body at the points of connection of said sections and including a disc shaped wall and arcuately extending annular attaching flanges secured to the inner surface of the body at the points of connection of the sections, and a reinforcing shoe for each bulk head including angularly related annular flanges secured respectively to the bulk head and to the inner surface of the body, and a reinforcing annular circumferentially extending strip interposed between the bulk head and attaching shoe and the inner surface of the body.

l 9. In a pneumatic raft, an annular flexible body including a plurality of arcuate sections having their terminals overlapped,

v sup ortin incense circumferentially extending reinforcin bands secured respectively to theiuner an the outer periphery of the body, transversely extending reinforcing strips-disposed about said body at the points of connections of said sections, flexible rope supporting melnberssecured to the outer surface of the body and reinforcing patches for said flexible members secured to the outer sur ace 0 thebody at the points of connections of said sections.

10. In a pneumatic raft, a flexible inflatable body, flexible supporting members-having the terminals thereof frayed and-spread 'out in contact with the outer surface of the body, a reinforcing patch having an opening therein for receiving the flexible .su"

'portingmember, the patch engaging t e frayed end of the flexible member to' secure the same-inposition on the body and for reinforcing the body.

11. In a pneumatic raft including an annular body formed of arcuate sections, bulk heads disposed in the body at the points of connections of said sections providing a plu- I rality of independent compartments, means for inflating the compartments, and partitions disposed. in each one of the sections having an axial opening therein including anoutwardly extending attaching flange for engaging the inner surface of the sections, and an attaching shoe including annular atteaching flanges secured respectively to the partition and to the inner surface of the body.

CHARLES C, WITMER. BECKWITH HAVENS. 

